Machine for operating upon blanks.



J. K. KQURIAN. MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-5,191].

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET L 741, Azzzsa 94 17 "urn-J J. K..'-(OUREAN.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED 32m, 5. 19:1.

Patented Dec. H 1915.

3 SHEETS SHEI-IT 2.

J. K. KDURIAN,

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON BLANKS. APPLlCATION mm SEPT. 5. m1.

L163,669, Patented Dec. H, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Fig. 5.

W n/ma are extra rams Fld li ci a JACOB K. K OURIAN, OF DANVEBJS.MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF IPATERSON,NEW JERSEY, A CGRPOBATION 9F JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING U?ON BLAI TKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. it, 15

Application filed September 5, 1911. Serial No. 647,688.

, To HZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Jncon K. Kounmn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Danvers, in the county of Essex and State oflllassachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines forOperating Upon Blanks, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like referencecharacters on the drawings inclieating like parts in the severalfigures.

This invention relates to machines for operating upon blanks and isherein illustrated as embodied in a machine for skiving and rollingleather blanks which are designed for use as soles in the manufacture ofboots and shoes. After these soles have been died out, it is necessarythat they be skived in order to bring each sole to a uniform thickness.Inasmuch. however, as the died-out soles vary considerably amongthemselves in thickness, the are first sorted and those which aresubsequentlv to be skived to the same thickness are placed together.There result thus several groups f soles, each group consisting of solesof different size but of approximately the same thickness. soles to theskivingmachine and hitherto thisfeeding operation has been donemanually". the skiving machine. of course. having previously beenadjusted in accordance with the thickness of the individual soles of theparticular group to be fed. It is desirable, however. that the soles ofeach group be fed automatically. and accordingly one object of thepresent invention consists in the provision of mechanism for feedingblanks of varying length having in combination a support for a pile ofblanks, a feed slide comprising a member arranged to engage the blanksone. by one, and means for causing said meml'ler to engage the edge ofeach blank successively irrespective of its length. Anv suitablemechanism may be provided, and in the illustrative machine the blankengaging member during its rearward stroke is continually pressedupwardly against the lowermost blank and isnioved upwardl' as soon asthe end of the blank is reached.

It is desirable that the blanks be fed straight to the skivingmechanism, and inasupon'the usual magazine having rigid sides.

The next step is to feed these.

Accordingly another feature of this invention consists in the provisionwith mechanism for feeding a blank of a knife edge arranged to engageone face of said blank as it is fed forward. In the illustrative machinetwo such knife edges are shown engaging the rear portion of thelowermost blank and being pressed into the blank by means of a weightsuperposed upon the pile of blanks; but the particular location of thelmife edges and mode of rendering them effective are immaterial.

In any machine in which blanks are fed successively to mechanism whichoperates upon them progressively, it is desirable that the blank whichis being operated upon be carried along far enough to be out of the waybefore the next succeeding one is fed forward. Accordingly anotherfeature of the invention consists in the provision in a machine havingmechanism for feeding blanks successively to operating mechanism ofautomatic meansfor causing a pause in the operation of'the feedmechanism. In the illustrative machine the pause is dependent upon theposition of the blanlc which is being fed and terminates when the blankis clear of the magazine, the feed mechanism being automatically startedagain.

ln order to facilitate the subsequent handling of the finished soles,another feature of the invention consists in the provision of means forstacking the soles as fast as they have. been operated upon; and in theillustative machine the finished soles are delivtit! ercd to aplatforinwhich slowly sinks as the tudinal section of a portion of the machinealso showing the feed mechanism; Fig. 4; is a perspective of theactuating mechanism for the feed mechanism; and Fig. 5 is a frontelevation of the machine.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 an travel of the blanks,

5, mounted in the frame 1 are feed rolls 3 be raised and lowered byturning a handle 17 which operates through rods 19 and gears 20 and 22as shown. These pressure rolls are forced together by a spring 21 actingthrough levers 23 and a rod of the spring being adjustable by means of ahand wheel 27. r

The feed rolls of the skiving mechanism and the pressure rolls of therolling mechanism are actuated from the driving shaft 29 as follows: Agear 31 fast to the shaft 29 meshes with a gear 33 fast to the shaft 35.At the opposite end of the shaft 29 is a gear 37 which through the idlegear 39 drives the gear ll which is fast to the shaft of the upper feedroll. The pressure rolls 15 are driven. from the gear 43 which mesheswith the gear 15, and this gear through idleshaft i7 and gears 49 and 51drives the gear 53. The driving shaft 29 carries fast and loose pulleys54 and 56 for the reception of a belt.

The mechanisms described briefly above constitute a skiving and rollingmachine, their purpose being to skive and roll the soles which are fedforward by the feed mechanism presently to be described. The details ofthe skiving and rolling machine, iowever, will not be set forth, sincethey form no part of the present invention. It should be understood,however, that the machine which has been thus briefly described istypical generally of machines for operating upon blanks.

Referring to Fig. frame are arranged to support a plurality of feedmechanisms, and inasmuch as these feed mechanisms are identical, onlyone of them will be described. Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, eachfeed mechanism comprises a support57 for a pile of blanks 300,

said support in the present case being formed with an inclined top andbeing cut out to provide space for the moving parts. Mounted uponguideways, one of which is shown at 59, is a slide 61 having teeth 63 toengage the under side of the lowermost blank and aid in the feedingoperation. This slide in turn is provided with a guideway 65 on which ablock 67 is slidable. l ivoted to this block is a feed member 69 urgedconstantly upward by a spring 71 and adjustablv. connected with theslide 61 by means/of a pawl 73 which qpt perates with 25, the tension 5,brackets 55 on the ratchet teeth 75 on the slide. Fastto the inner wallof the cut-out portion of the sup port 57 are two ratchet bars 77, andslidably mounted upon said bars is a controller,

herein shown as a weight 79, said weight being permitted to slideforwardly on said.

ratchet bars but being held from rearward movement by means of pawls 81.The slide,

on the front wall is an adjustable gate or finger 96, held "in adjustedposition by screw bolt 98 and being adjustable vertically by a similarbolt 102.

With the construction thus far described and the blanks arranged inorder with the longest one at the bottom, the operation of the device isas follows: Starting with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3 andsupposing the pulley to be rotating in the direction indicated by thearrow, as the slide 61 is moved forward the feed member 69 will beraised by the spring until it engages the end of the lowermost blank.The blank will then be fed forward a given distance after which theslide will begin its return movement. Meantime the controller 79 byreason of its weight will have slid down the inclined rack bars 77 andbe firmlv held by the pawls 81 in contact with the lowermost blank. Thefeed member 69 on its return stroke will therefore contact with thisfirmly held controller with the result that the block 67 will be movedwith respect to the slide 61 and the pawl 73 will lock said block in itsnew position. This operation will be repeated with each succeedingblank, it being evident that the controller 79 will always be in contactwith the end of the lowermost blank irrespective of the length of saidblank. In order that the controller may exert a straight push upon theblock 67, said controller is provided with a cavity having an inclinedupper wall whereby the feed member 69 is bent downwardly on its return.movement and during the time that the block 67 is being moved withrespect to the slide 61 occupies the position shown. It should be nismmoves each blank entirely, past the front wall of the magazine. In theillustrative machine, however, each blank is fed only part way past thefront wall. and is then gripped and pulled forward by the rolls 3 of theskiving mechanism. The gear-'- ing of the machine is such that thevelocity at which each blank is fed by the feed mechanism is equal tothat at which it is drawn forward by the rolls 3 of the skivingmechanism so that a given blank cannot readily interfere with thepassage of the preceding one. In order, however, to insure positivelythat one blank shall'not overtake another in its passage through themachine, means are provided for automatically disconnecting the feedmechanism from its actuating-mechanism after each reciprocation of thefeed member."

tefer-ring again to Figs. 2, 3 and 1, the pulley 83 is driven from aclutch gear 99 slidable' and rotatable upon a fixed shaft 101 andprovided with a hub having a groove 103, the said clutch gear beingdriven from the shaft 29 by means of a chain 105. A clutch actuatinglever 107 pivoted at 109 to the frame of the machine carries a pin 111which cotiperates with the groove 103 and is pivoted near its outer endat 113 to a. slide 115 so that when the slide is in one extreme positionpower is applied to the pulley 83, while in the other extreme positionpower is withdrawn therefrom.

A wedge 1.17 which bears with its inclined. face against the inclinedend of the slide 115 normally holds the slide in the position shown withthe clutch member 99 in contact with the clutch face of the pulley 83.This 1 wedge is carried by a link 118 pivoted to an arm 119 which inturn is carried by a rockshaft 121 having fast at its opposlte end agate or finger 123. A spring 125 normally holds the gate closed. When,however, the gateQis raised by the passage of a blank beneath it, thewedge is withdrawn from contact with the slide 115 and said slide isthen free to be moved to throw out the clutch. Referring now to themechanism for throwing out the clutch, the slide 115 is provided withears 127 between which is pivoted a pawl 129. This pawl is curved asshown, and its forward end extends through a 'slot in the slide llo andinto a notch 131 in the frame of the machine, while its rear end is inposition-to be moved in the direction of the arrow shown ,in Fig. 1 bythe end of the link 85. When, therefore, the pulley 83 is actuated andthe feed member 69 has forced a blank beneath the gate 128, the wedge117 is removed from contact with the end of the slide 115. As the pulley83 approaches its initial position the extended end of the link 85strikes the end of thejpawl 129, thereby lifting the pawl from the notch131 and forcing the slide 115 toward the wedge 117. This automaticallythrows out the clutch and leaves the mechanism in position to be startedautomatically when the blank has been pulled out from beneath the gate128. 1V hen this latter happens, the spring 125 operates to throw thewedge back into the posititon shown in Fig. 1-, thereby throwing in theclutch again. It should be understood that the momentum of the parts issufficient to carry the end of the link 85 past the pawl 129 after saidlink has'actuated said pawl.

When the last blank has been fed, it is desirable that the feedmechanism should come to, and remain at, rest; and to this end thestandard 133 which supports the weight 97 and is slidable in guides 135carries a pin 187, and as the last blank is fed from beneath the weightthis pin bears downwardly upon a pawl 139 and forces it into a notch 111 in the link 118, thereby holding the wedge 117 retracted and thespring 125 compressed. The pawl 139 is pivoted to one of the guides 135and is normally held with its end in contact with the stop pin 1 13 bymeans of a weight 145.

As has been stated, the blanks to be fed may be of diderent widths sothat ordinary rigid side guides cannot be made use of. In

order then to insure that a blank shall be fed straight forward and heldfirmly from angular movement until its forward end is properly grippedby the feed rolls and skiving mechanism, a plurality of knife edges 1 17are mounted upon the bed or support 57, and these knife edges arepressed by the weight 97 firmly into the'under side of each blank. Inorder to facilitate the feeding movement a roller 1 19 is mounted infront of each knife.

In machines of the class described, the blanks that have been operatedupon either are allowed to fall indiscriminately from the machine or aretaken from the machine one by one by the operator and stacked. In thepresent machine, however, mechanism is provided for automaticallystacking the blanks. A receptacle 151. has slotted side 7 platform 155,said guides being designed to steady said platform in its descent and ina measure to support said platform by friction. Fast to the side wall ofthe receptacle and adjacent one of the slots is a ratchet bar 157, andpivoted to the guide and arranged to cooperate with the ratchet bar is adouble pawl 159 acted upon by a spring 161. Two arms 163 and 165 arepivoted to the side wall, the upper arm being curved and carrying aroller'167, and these arms are connected by an actuating link .169. Itwill now be clear that the mechanism for permitting the platform 155 tosink as the soles are piled upon it resembles an escapement, and itshould be understood that the escapement is duplicated on the other sideof the receptacle. A The operation is as follows: With the parts in theposition shown, the platform is held to an extent by the frictionbetween. the guides 153 and the walls of the inclined slots, the purposeof said friction being to relieve part of the weight of the platform andsoles. however, by the lower arms of the pawls. If now another sole isforced under the roller 167 the lower arms of the pawls will be forcedoutwardly by the actuating rods 169 and the upper arms forced inwardly.The platform will then drop until the upper arms of the pawls engage thenext lower teeth of the bars 157, the ends of the lower arms being thenpart way between two teeth. This slight lowering of the platform willrelieve the pressure upon the springs 161, and said springswillimmediately act to swing the pawls into the position shown whereupon theplatform will fall until the ends of the lower arms of the pawls engagethe next lower teeth of the bar and the parts are in the position shown.The forcing of another sole beneath the roller 16? will cause arepetition of the movements described above, and

these repetitions will continue until the platform reaches the bottom ofthe ompartment 151. Thesoles will thus be automatically stacked andhence in a convenient form for being handled.

Although the invention has been set forth in'connection with aparticular machine, it

should be understood that the invention is not limited in'the scope ofits application to the particular machine shown and described.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is l. Mechanism for feeding apile of blanks of differentilengths arranged progressively as to lengthhaving, in combination, a support fortliat end of the pile which has the3 greater dimensioh,,a reciprocating'feedmeme,

ber arrangedkto; engage the blanksjplone by one, and means for causingthe path of reciprocation ofsa'id member to be shortenedprogressivel'yas the blanks are fed.

2. Mechanism for feeding a pile of blanks .of different lengths arrangedprogressively as to length having, in combination, a support for'thatend of the pile which has the greater dinrension, means for feeding saidblanks forward one by one, and means engaging the edge of e'ach blankfor causing the blanks to be fed the same distance irrespective of theirlength.

3. Mechanism for feeding a pile of blanks of different lengths arrangedprogressively as to length, having, in combination, a support for thatend of the pile which has the greater dimension, a feed member, meansThe platform is positively held,

port for that end for moving said member forwardly and backwardlybeneathsaid pile, means for pressing the feed member upwardly duringmeans dependent upon the length of the blank to be fed for varying thelength of the I path of movement of said feed member.

5. Mechanism for feeding a pile of blanks of different lengths arrangedprogressively as to length, having, in combination, a support for thatend of the pile which has the greater dimension, a slide, a feed membercarried thereby, means for imparting to said slide a reciprocation in apath of fixed loca tion. and means dependent upon the length of theblank to be fed at any given time for varying the length of the path ofreciprocation of the feed member.

6. Mechanism for feeding a pile of blanks of'diiferent lengths arrangedprogressively as to length, having. in combination, a support for thatend of the pile which has the greater'dimension, a slide, a feed membercarried thereby for engaging the edge of one blank at a time, saidmember being effective in the forward direction, means forreciprocating-said slide, a spring for holding the feed member upagainst the lower side of the lowermost blank, and means responsive tothe length of the given blank to be fed and acting in conjunction withsaid spring during the rearward movement of said slide for. causing saidfeed member to be moved into position to engage the rear edgeofsaidblank.

7. Mechanism for port for a pile of blanks, a slide, a feed membercarried thereby for engaging the edge of one blank at a time, means forreciprocating said slide, means for moving said feed memfeeding blanksof dififerent lengths having, in combination, a supber in a directionapproximately transverse greater dimension, a slide, means forreciprocating said slide beneath said pile, a feed 'memberfor engagingthe lowermost blank, said member being mounted upon said slide andadjustable with respect thereto, and angreater dimension, a slide, meansfor recip tomatic means dependent upon the length of the lowermost blankfor adjusting said feed member, in the direction of its reciprocation.

9. Mechanism n feeding a pile of blanks of different lengths arrangedprogressively as to length, having, in combination, a support for thatend of the pile which has the rocating said slide beneath said pile, afeed member for engaging the lowermost blank, said member being mountedupon said slide and adjustable with respect thereto, a con trollermovable forwardly to contact with the edge of the lowermost blank andarranged to engage said feed member on its rearward stroke, and meansfor preventing rearward movement of said controller.

l0. Mechanism for feeding a pile of blanks of different lengths arrangedprogressively to length, having, in combination, a sup port for that endof the pile which has the greater dimension, a slide, means forreciprocating said slide beneath said pile, a feed member movableangularly and bodily with respect thereto, and means responsive to thelength of the lowermost blank for moving said feed member.

l1. Mechanism for feeding a pile of'blanks of different lengths arrangedprogressively as to length, having, in combination, a support for thatend of the pile which has the greater dimension, a feed slide havingratchet teeth formed thereon, means for reciprocating said slide, a feedmember for engaging the end of each blank successively, a pawl betweensaid feed member and ratchet teeth to preventmovement of said member ina rearward direction, and means responsive to the length of the blank tobe fed for moving said member in a forward direction.

12. Mechanism for feeding blanks of different lengths having, incombination, a support for a pile of blanks, a slide arranged to bereciprocated beneath said pile and provided with ratchet teeth, a blockslidably mounted on said slide, a feed member pivoted to said block, apawl carried by said block and arranged to ooiiperate with the ratchetteeth on said slide, a spring tending to'move said feed member aboutsaid pivot, and means formoving said feed member with respect to saidslide.

13. Feed mechanism having a support for a pile of blanks, and mechanismfor feeding said blanks one at a time, said feed mechanism being alwayseffective on its forward" stroke in combination with a finger past whichthe blanks are fed, and means rcsponsive to the position of said fingerfor stopping the actuation of said feed mechanism.

1.4. Feed mechanism having a support for use air a pile of blanks andmeans for feeding said blanks one at a time in combination with clutchfor applying power to reciprocate said feeding means, and automaticmeans for throwing said clutch into and out of operative position duringthe interval between the engagement of the feeding means with one blankand its engagement with the next succeeding blank. l5. Feed mechanismhaving a support for a pile of blanks and-means for feeding said blanksone at a time in combination with. a clutch for applying power toreciprocate said feeding means, means arranged to throw out said clutchafter a blank has been fed a given distance, and means becoming cerative during the further passage of the blank for throwing said clutchin again.

16. Feed mechanism having a support for a blank and means for feedingsaid blank over said support, in combination with a plurality of knifeedges for engaging the face of said blank and 'ieldin means for pressingsaid knife edges into said face.

17. A machine of the class described having a knife, a support for ablank, and means for feeding said blank to said knife, in combinationwith a plurality of straight guides having thin edges, and means forpressing said guides into the face of'said blank to insure properpresentation of said blank to said knife.

18. A machine arranged to deliver soles and similar articles incombination with a.

vertically movable platform for receiving said soles, a ratchet bar anda pawl for sup porting said platform; and means operated. by thedelivery of a sole for releasing said pawl from said bar.

19. A machine arranged to deliver soles and similar articles one at atime in combi nation with a vertically movable platform for receivingsaid soles, means for holding said platform in supporting position, and

Flinn W. Gninonn, ARTHUR L. RUssnLL.

